Election Bill Special Committee to Hold First Meeting

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – The Special Committee (Pansus) for the draft bill on general elections has canceled its first meeting that was scheduled on Thursday, November 17, 2016. Riza Patria, Pansus member from the Great Indonesia Movement Party Faction, said that the first meeting has been rescheduled on Monday, November 21, 2016.

“The meeting was scheduled today, but if I’m not mistaken, the quorum has not been reached yet,” he told Tempo on Thursday, November 17, 2016.

The first agenda of the meeting is the selection of Pansus leaders. According to Riza, House of Representatives’ factions have not yet proposed candidates to chair the special committee.

The lawmaker said that finalizing the election bill is the priority agenda for the special committee.

“Therefore, [the special committee] will be able to draft the bill in state’s best interest,” he explained.

According to Riza, the meeting will not only discuss the appointment of leaders but also deliberate the discussion method and the deadline.

Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo met House speakers at the Senayan Parliamentary Complex in Jakarta on Wednesday, November 16, 2016, in a bid to expedite the draft bill deliberation, as the election stages will commence in June next year.